Ford, Volvo, Chrysler back Sirius XM on wireless interference fight

Looks like the Sirius XM satellite radio service has brought out some big automotive guns in its feud with the WCS Coalition over tower interference concerns between wireless and satellite services. Ford, Volvo, and Chrysler have written to the Federal Communications Commission to back Sirius on the question.

“We urge the FCC to be cautious and ensure that satellite radio is not degraded by changing the established rules for WCS operations,” Ford told the FCC on January 26. “Sirius XM Radio has spent billions of dollars developing networks that are based on the understanding that mobile WCS devices would not interfere. Automakers have installed tens of millions of satellite radios in their vehicles with that same understanding. Unlike cell phones, automobiles are notdiscarded every year or two – these satellite radios will remain operational and in circulation for years to come.”

Ditto says Volvo using pretty much the same language. And don’t forget, warns Chrysler, “Unlike cell phone service where momentary blips or degradation are easily overcome, satellite radio provides high-quality audio and music where drop-outs and interruptions are neither expected nor tolerated by subscribers, in large part because competing audio services typically provide error free service.”

As we have reported, the close proximity of the Wireless Communications Services band to the Sirius XM satellite band in the 2.3 GHz area has caused quite a bit of contention about whether WCS activity interferes or could mess with Sirius XM transmissions, especially if various spectrum holders start offering broadband on those frequencies. Sirius insists that coexistence scenarios proposed by the WCS Coalition pose a threat. The coalition, which represents the license area’s owners (among them AT&T, Comcast, and NextWave) say that Sirius’ claims are exaggerated.

Indeed, “The Sun, The Moon And The Stars Must Align For Interference To Occur,” reads one WCS Powerpoint slide.

This feud has been going on for several years now. In fact it predates discussion of the Sirius XM merger. I’m unclear as to when the FCC plans to apply the elbow grease necessary to resolve the issue, but my latest theory is that the policy of the agency is to wait until the sun turns into a Red Dwarf, thus making the problem moot.

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About Matthew Lasar

Matthew Lasar is a co-founder of Radio Survivor and its business manager. He is the author of Radio 2.0: Uploading the First Broadcast Medium (http://tinyurl.com/jr8uknk) and teaches history at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Likes: deejays, classical music, Disco, postpunk, cats, free school lunches. Dislikes: money, ideologies, claims that technology will fix everything. Follow him on twitter at @matthewlasar.

I am a loyal subscriber to SiriusXM radio. They are the cream of the crop and should stay that way. Outside interference is not acceptable. Let this station do what it has been doing for many years, put out an exceptional product.

I have the same worry and the same worry with the use of the so called white spectrum that was UHF TV above channel 51. What will close buy transmitters do to the TV amps people have on tv antennas. My fear is all the amps were made to tune those channels and may be overloaded with a close by transmitter.

3 years after this post, and my Sirius/XM cuts out near cell towers. There are specific freeway offramps (up above the freeway here in FLAT Mesa AZ) and ALWAYS the radio cuts out. WHY?? This should have been solved by now. Grrrrrrr.

2 years after the above post, and my SiriusXM radio in both of our cars cuts out in Phoenix, AZ at the intersection of Interstate 10 (I10) and Ray Rd, There are two other spots on the way to work where it does the same thing. Both of these are when on the freeway with direct line of site into a cell tower. Someone did not consider how close and low the towers are in Phoenix. AT&T got away with this one. 🙁